Fabric structure



May 8, 1928. 1,668,935

R. D. BRADBURY FABRIC STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 21. 26 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J3 Ji Ql. J5 J2 I I 2v 5 15 9 2:5 J2

INVENTOR Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES ROYALL D. BRADBURY, OF AN DOVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IAIBRIG STRUCTURE.

Application fled October 21, 1928. Serial No. 148,117.

My invention relates to fabric structures, orplaster grounds, for walls, ceilings, etc., and more particularly to those of the t pe wherein a fabric body of open-mesh is bao ed by a sheet of material that serves to retain plaster or the like that is placed against and forced through the openin s in said.

fabric, but it will be understood t at my invention is neither limited to the particular arrangement of fabric and backing shown in the accompanying drawings, nor to the specific kind of fabric shown in said drawmgs.

My invention has for one of its objects the provision of a simplified and improved form of plaster ground structure.

Another object of my invention is to rovide an im roved form of backing s eet a ainst which reinforcing members, for p aster or concrete, may be placed.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of fastening means for securing a backing sheet to an open mesh fabric. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby a plurality of fabric units are readily mounted in effective cooperating relation upon a supporting framework. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of fastening device and spacer bar for connecting a backing sheet to a reinforcing sheet.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of backing sheet aving suitable ridges or furring ribs against which fabric or reinforcing members may be placed.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a face view showing the manner in which the fabric structures are assembled upon a supporting framework; Fig. 2 is a view, tak on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a lee view showing one of the fabric units of Fi 1, independentl of the other units and o the supporting ramework; Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is an edge elevational view on an enlarged scale, of the structure of Flg. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the spacing and tie bars of Figs. 1 to 6, and Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the bar of Fig. 7.

Fabric structure units 10, 11 and 12 are shown 1n fragmentary form in Fig. 1, as secured to studding or other supporting framework 13, prellminary to the application of plaster, stucco or concrete thereto for the formation of a wall or partition.

Terms vertical and horizontal are subsequently used herein merely for clarity of descriptlon, being appropriate only to the fabric structures when placed in the art1cular positions illustrated in the drawm It wil1 be understood, however, that t e fabr c structures may, in practice, take other posltlons, since the invention can also be employed 1n connection with the formation of ceilings and floors.

As shown more clearly in Fi 3 to 6, the fabric units are composed 0 an openmesh reinforcing fabric 14 which is made u of vertical and horizontal metal bars whic are welded at their points of juncture. In order to retain the plaster or concrete during application thereof to'the reinforcin fabric 14, I provide a-backing sheet 15 whlch ma be of heav paper or other suitable materi Behind this backing sheet, I place a plurality of spacer or furring bars 16 that are angular or curved in cross section, and each of which is provided with tongues 17 that are struck up therefrom as indicated in Fi 7 or which may be secured thereto by welding or riveting, as shown by the bar 16 and tongue 17 in Fig. 8, or in any other suitable manner. The backing sheet 15 and the bars 16 are brought together in such manner that ribs or corrugations 18 are formed in the sheet 15' by the bars 16 and the tongues 17 pressed through the sheet, as shown more clearly in Fi 4. The tongues 17 may then be bent own as shown in Fig. 5, thus securely tying the reinforcing sheet and the backing sheet together, the ribs 16 and 18 serving as spacing or furring elements for the remforclng sheet. The fact that the bars 16 are angular in cross section adds to the strength of the fabric structure and ermits such structure to be applied to stud ing or frame members 13 that are spaced a greater distance apart than would be permissible if the fabric structure did not have this degree of stiffness or rigidity.

As a means for holding the ribs 16 in assembled relation with respect to the backin sheet 15, particularly before the tongues 1% are bent over the strands of the reinforcing sheet 14, and also as a means of maintaining the crimped or corrugated condition of sheet 15, I provide an auxiliary backing sheet 19 that is coated with an adhesive substance on that side which is brought into contact with the rear surface of the sheet 15. This adhesive substance may consist of ordinary glue or may suitably be of water proof material such as rubber or asphalt mastic, thereby rendering the sheet water-proof.

By this construction the auxiliary backing sheet 19 thus converts the rear side of the backing unit into a smooth, unbroken surface entirely free from ridges, depressions, cuts or perforations of any kind. Properties of water-proofness, fire-proofness, temperature insulation, sound-deadeniug, etc. may be provided merely by suitable selection of the kind of material used for the auxiliary sheet 19.

The units thus assembled may be secured to the studding 13 by means of staples 20, as shown in Fig. 1, and the plaster then applied. The bars forming the reinforcing sheet 14, being ofi-set from the plane of the backing sheet 15, are thoroughly embedded in the plaster and the backing sheet 15 serves as a form or backing for the plaster. The ribs 16 are preferably of angular form in cross section, with one flange of much greater length than the other. With the longer flange extending downwardly, the shorter flange has a very flat slope which substantially approaches the horizontal, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The longer flange gives greater strength to the structure and also permits tongues of suflicient length to be struck up therefrom as indicated by the reference numeral 17 in Fig. 7. The shorter horizontal-like flange serves as a shelf-like support for the plaster. These shelf-like ridges, occurring as they do at relatively frequent intervals, provide, throughout the entire wall surface, numerous supports against vertical slippage of the plaster while in its plastic state.

A series of my fabric structure units can be applied to a supporting frame-work to form a wall, partition, floor, or ceiling so that the edges of adjacent units are joined in such a manner that the reinforcing elements of all units become continuously efiective throughout the entire surface of application; also the backing elements of all adjacent units, can be so assembled as to render the covered surface entirely free of any open or unclosed joints. This I accomplish by use of an improved method of lapping the sides and ends of adjacent units as shown in Fi 1. Y

is shown in Fig. 3, the backing sheet 15-19 and the ribs 16 terminate at some distance from one vertical edge of the reinforcing sheet 14. The unit 12 may therefore be slid beneath the adjacent edge of the unit 10. with its backing sheet in abutting relation to the backing sheet 15-19 of Fig. 3. The unit 12 preferably extends below the lower edge of the unit 10 so that its lower edge will be'vertically offset with respect to the line of juncture between the units 10 and 11. In this way end joints may be staggered throughout the surface of application.

The reinforcing sheet of unit 11 lies beneath the reinforcing sheet of unit 10, and the backing sheet of unit 11 is disposed behind the lower edge of the backing sheet 18. This overlapping arrangement of backing sheets creates in effect a system of flashing which will prevent any moisture from penetrating the wall, while the upper extremities of the vertical strands may, if desired, be bent down over the bottom horizontal strand of the reinforcing fabric 14, to more firmly connect the parts together. The overlapping of the reinforcing fabric of the unit 10 with the adjacent edges of the reinforcing fabrics of units 11 and 12 can thus be accomplished by maintaining all reinforcing elements in substantially one plane of reinforcement and without any bending or crimping of any members of the reinforcing sheets. This makes for increased strength as well as simplicity of erection.

The vertical bars or stays of the reinforcing sheet 14 lie against the ribs 18, while the horizontal bars or strands of the sheet 14 are secured to the outer surfaces of the vertical stays. The strands are thus spaced from the ribs 18 so that such strands will be substantially completely imbedded in the plaster.

If desired, the bars 16 may be dispensed with and the ribs 18 formed on the backing sheet 15 in some other manner. The backing sheet could be made of such strength that its ribs would be self-sustaining to a reasonable degree, or it could be made of lighter material and the adhesive backing 19 utilized to stiffen and support the same against deformation after the ribs have been formed therein. Also, reinforcing members such as lath-like strips, expanded metal, woven or twisted wire fabrics, etc., can be substituted for the reinforcing fabric 14, and any of the various types of reinforcement can be placed against the backing sheets after they have been nailed or otherwise secured to studding or-the like, or may be suitably fastened thereto previous to assembling of the backing sheets upon a supporting frame.

Various other changes in detail and general arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention 1. Fabric structure, comprising a backing sheet having forwardly extending hollow ribs formed therein, bars lying within said depressions, reinforcing fabric lying against the front faces of the ribs, and tie members uniting said reinforcing fabric to said bars.

2. Fabric structure, comprising a backing sheet having forwardly extending hollow ribs formed therein, bars lying within said ribs, reinforcing fabric lying against the front faces of said ribs, and tie members uniting said reinforcing fabric to said bars, the said tie members being formed integrally with said bars and projecting through the backing sheet.

3. Fabric structure comprising a reinforcing fabric, a backing sheet, rib-like membcrs secured to said sheet and projecting forwardly to serve as spacing elements, and. means for securing said rib-like members to the reinforcing fabric.

4. Fabric structure comprising a backing sheet, rib-like members having portions disposed at the rear surface of said sheet, and portions projecting forwardly of the plane of the sheet, an auxiliary sheet fastened to the rear surfaces of said backin sheet and rib-like members for retaining said members in place.

5. Fabric structure comprising a backing sheet, rib-like members having portions disposed at the rear surface of said sheet, and portions projecting forwardly of the plane of the sheet, an auxiliary sheet fastened to the rear surfaces of said backing sheet, for retaining said rib-like members in place, and means for securing said rib members and backing sheet to a reinforcing fabric.

In testimony whereof I, the said ROYALL D. BRADBURY have hereunto set my hand.

ROYALL D. BRADBURY. 

